Tiax As A Viable Cleric

GandalfPortraitGuy

I discussed playing my character for multiple runs in Baldur's Gate. Seeing as, therefore, multiple Tomes of Wisdom would be available, how viable would Tiax be as a Cleric/thief, with 16 Wisdom?

smeagolheart

define viable. I've played BG:EE with no cleric and found it for at least the first few chapters. Tiax does have a few spells he can cast. I find him viable.

Dexter

Tiax is maxed at level 7, so he'll miss one 3th lvl and 4th lvl spells, but his higher spell level is the same as any pure class cleric. In exchange, he takes care of all thieving duties and has a really nice special ability. I've liked him when I had him in my party, he works really well with a druid, so you cover all divine magic, or maybe you can focus him in locks/traps and have another NPC focus in stealth/backstab.

the_spyder

why do people need to min/max the NPCs? Tiax is viable from the perspective that he is a total scream to have in your group. AND he can cast spells. Is he the BEST cleric in the game? No. Does he HAVE to be super awesome as a cleric just to be fun to have along? Not in my opinion.

smeagolheart

I use a mod, NPCs at Beginning, to be able to recruit Tiax earlier. His summon ghast special ability is unique and situationally great (for example against basilisks)

zur312

any npc is viable
but will you really want him in a party?

the_spyder

zur312 said:

any npc is viable
but will you really want him in a party?

Tiax? Abso-bleedin-lootly!!!!

DreadKhan

the_spyder said:

zur312 said:

any npc is viable
but will you really want him in a party?

Tiax? Abso-bleedin-lootly!!!!

But Xzar! And Monty! Better! Are!

dstoltzfus

Tiax's summon ghast ability is very useful (especially in SCS early). His backstabbing can be very good if used properly. Clerics as healers are not necessary in BG: EE as healing potions and gold (to pay for healing) are quite sufficient (as it has been said on the forum quite a bit). If it really matters, the 3 tomes makes him easily a very good cleric. Personally, even with his poor stats, he always fills his rolls (thieving and cleric duty) very well in my parties. As it has been said, his personality is awesome!

"Such insolence! Tiax will place a mark of shame upon your forehead! All will know your treachery!"

DreadKhan

Buying healing potions with an evil party is expensive early.

IkMarc

Just pick him up early or his thieving stats will suck

JuliusBorisov

As a multiclass character Tiax is viable already. If we take into account there's no big need for healing in BG1 due to potions and temples the fact he's only half a cleric doesn't mean much. It's more than enough, especially if you give him the Ring of Holiness. I find him very effective character. And, by the way, the fact that "buing healing potions with an evil party is expensive early" has nothing to do with Tiax - you get him later, when money is not a problem.

His special ability really can make him shine (as well as his personality). It's a unique feature, unmatched - nobody can summon a ghast except Tiax. This ghast can help in difficult fights a lot. + You can use Tiax for some thieving skills - for setting traps, for example. Traps + ghast work wonders.

But I see the problem with Tiax in not min/maxing stats and abilities - it's his location, the problem. More often than not a charname comes to the city of BG with an already formed party and there simply can be no place for Tiax. The longer I travel with certain NPCs the more I become attached to them and it's hard for me to say farewell to a friend who often saved the party in difficult situations.

So if you're ready to wait for your party member till BG, if there's a place in your party for a cleric at the moment you reach BG, if you plan to do many quests after it (TotSC content especially) and if you're not against an evil NPC - Tiax is a viable NPC, a viable cleric in particular.